Moving to Spain from the USA in 2026: Step by Step Guide

Moving to Spain from the USA follows one basic path. First, you choose a visa that fits your income or your reason for moving. Then you apply in person at the Spanish consulate (or its BLS visa center) that covers your US state. You usually get your NIE during the visa process (or before it, for the digital nomad visa). After you land, you register your address (empadronamiento) and apply for your TIE residence card.

Most Americans use the non-lucrative visa if they live on savings or a pension, or the digital nomad visa if they work remotely. This guide compares the main routes using 2026 figures in euros and dollars. It also covers health insurance, the consulate steps and the paperwork after arrival, in the order that actually works.

Key facts at a glance

Question	Short answer (as of November 2026)
Can Americans move to Spain?	Yes, with a long-stay visa. Visa-free stays cover only 90 days in any 180-day period.
Non-lucrative visa income	€28,800 a year for the main applicant, plus €7,200 per family member
Digital nomad visa income	€2,849 a month (€34,188 a year) for the main applicant
Health insurance	Required. The non-lucrative visa needs private cover with no copays or deductibles.
Golden visa	Closed to new applicants since 3 April 2025
Where you apply	In person at the consulate (or its BLS visa center) covering your state
Background check	FBI check with a federal apostille and a sworn Spanish translation
After arrival	Padrón registration, then TIE. Apply for the TIE within the window on your visa, usually one month from entry.
US taxes	You still file a US return every year

Can Americans move to Spain?

Yes, Americans can move to Spain, but you cannot do it on a tourist entry. US citizens can visit Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The Consulate General of Spain in Houston confirms that no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days. To live there longer, you need a residence visa. The 90 days do not reset each time you leave and come back, so check your dates with our Schengen 90/180 calculator.

That limit is now enforced by computer. Since 10 April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System has recorded the biometric and passport data of non-EU travelers, so overstays show up automatically, as Immigration Lawyers Spain explains. ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorization for visa-free visitors, has not started yet, so check travel-europe.europa.eu before any visa-free trip.

Rules change, and each consulate reads them a little differently. Confirm your own case with your consulate or a qualified immigration adviser before you file.

Spain visa options for Americans compared

For most Americans, the choice comes down to the non-lucrative visa (passive income, no work) or the digital nomad visa (remote work for companies outside Spain). The employee, Blue Card and student routes need a Spanish employer or school first. Self-employment is possible, but it comes with its own business-plan test.

Visa route	Who it fits	2026 money test	Can you work?
Non-lucrative visa	Retirees and people living on savings, pensions or investments	€28,800/year (about $33,400) plus €7,200 per family member	No
Digital nomad (telework) visa	Remote employees and freelancers serving companies outside Spain	€2,849/month (about $3,305), with at least 80% from non-Spanish sources	Yes, remotely
Employee work visa	People with a Spanish job offer	Set by the job. The employer starts the process in Spain.	Yes, for that employer
EU Blue Card	Highly qualified workers with a Spanish offer	Salary of at least €39,269.92/year (about $45,553)	Yes
Self-employed or entrepreneur visa	Freelancers or founders starting a business in Spain	Many consulates ask for a business plan and proof of start-up capital	Yes, in your own business
Student visa	People admitted to a Spanish school or university	Proof of funds per your consulate's checklist	Up to 30 hours a week in higher education
Golden visa	No new applicants	Closed since 3 April 2025	Not applicable

Dollar figures in this guide use an example rate of $1.16 per euro. That rate matches the roughly $33,400 figure the Houston consulate has quoted for the €28,800 threshold. Exchange rates move, so recheck before you apply.

Is it hard to get a work visa in Spain without a job offer?

Yes. Without a job offer, the employee route is closed. For that route, the employer must start the process in Spain and get approval before you apply at a Spanish consulate in the US, as Wise describes. The 2026 EU Blue Card salary threshold in Spain is €39,269.92 a year under Orden PJC/44/2026, according to Jobbatical.

Without an offer, your realistic options are the digital nomad visa, if you already work remotely, or a self-employed visa. For self-employment, many consulates ask for a business plan and proof of start-up capital, so check your consulate's checklist for the exact documents.

Student visa

Under Spain's 2025 immigration regulation, a student visa covers the full length of your studies. Family members can apply jointly, and higher-education students can work up to 30 hours a week, per Immigration Lawyers Spain. If you plan to study, use our Spain student visa application checklist.

Is the Spanish golden visa still available to Americans?

No. Spain's golden visa investor residency program closed to new applicants on 3 April 2025, so buying property no longer gives you residency. Current holders keep their rights and can still renew. Our guide to golden visa options for Americans covers the countries that still offer one.

How much money do I need for the Spanish non-lucrative visa in 2026?

As of November 2026, Spain's non-lucrative visa requires the main applicant to show at least €28,800 a year (about $33,400). Each additional family member adds €7,200 a year (about $8,352), according to Pellicer Heredia.

The figure is 400% of IPREM, a Spanish benchmark that stayed at €600 a month in 2026 because Spain did not pass a new national budget. One source says each child needs only 50% of IPREM, so confirm the amount for dependants with your consulate.

You cannot work remotely for a US employer on the non-lucrative visa, which does not allow any work or professional activity (Embassy of Spain in Washington). If your money comes from a job, even a remote US job, look at the digital nomad visa instead.

Worked example: a retired couple from Ohio

Say you are a 64-year-old retiree from Ohio living on Social Security and a 401(k), and you are moving with your spouse:

Main applicant: €28,800
Spouse: €7,200
Total yearly requirement: €36,000 (about $41,760)

Now plan for renewal. Under RD 1155/2024, the first permit lasts one year and a renewal lasts two years. Because the renewal covers two years, the main applicant generally needs 24 months of funds, which is €57,600, plus €14,400 per dependant, per Hilivsolution. For the same couple, that comes to €72,000 (about $83,520). You must also have lived in Spain for more than 183 days in the year to renew. People often qualify the first time and then come up short at renewal.

To compare Spain with other countries, check your income with our Europe visa income checker. For pensions and taxes in retirement, read our guide on how to retire in Spain as an American.

Spain digital nomad visa requirements for US citizens in 2026

As of November 2026, Spain's digital nomad visa requires at least €2,849 a month (€34,188 a year). That is 200% of Spain's minimum wage under Royal Decree 126/2026. You also need at least three months of work history with your employer or clients, plus a degree or three years of relevant experience, per España Abogados.

Most specialist sources treat the threshold as gross income, but consulates assess it case by case, so confirm with yours. The figure rose from €2,763 in 2025 after the minimum wage went up 3.1%. If an article quotes a lower number, it is out of date.

Who the telework visa covers

The telework visa is for people who work for companies or serve them as clients. It does not cover work for individuals, international organizations, government agencies, universities, foundations, NGOs or other non-profits, according to the Embassy of Spain in Washington. At least 80% of your income must come from non-Spanish sources.

You also need social security coverage. For Americans, that means either registering with Spanish Social Security or getting a Certificate of Coverage from the SSA under the US-Spain Totalization Agreement, which has been in force since 1 April 1988, per Remote Work Europe.

Worked example: a remote worker with a spouse and one child

Spain adds 75% of the minimum wage for a spouse or partner (about €1,068 a month) and 25% for each additional family member (about €356 a month):

You: €2,849 a month
Spouse: €1,068 a month
Child: €356 a month
Total: €4,273 a month (about $4,957), or €51,276 a year (about $59,480)

Can you apply from inside Spain?

Yes. People legally in Spain can apply for the telework residence permit directly in Spain without first getting a telework visa, per the Washington embassy's telework page. One law firm says a US consulate application gives a 1-year visa, while an application from inside Spain gives a 3-year permit, usually decided in about 20 business days (Spain Nomad Lawyer). We could not confirm those details on an official page. If you try this route, file while you are still within your legal 90 days.

What health insurance do I need for a Spanish visa?

For the non-lucrative visa, you need private health insurance from an insurer authorized to operate in Spain, with full coverage and no copays or deductibles. Digital nomad applicants need public or private health coverage.

The details are on the Embassy of Spain in Washington's non-lucrative visa checklist and its telework visa page. A typical US travel medical plan with a deductible does not meet the non-lucrative rule. Ask the insurer for a certificate that states the coverage terms in writing, and confirm the exact wording on your consulate's checklist.

Which Spanish consulate do I apply to?

You apply at the Spanish consulate that covers the US state where you live, and you cannot pick a different one. For the non-lucrative visa, the Washington embassy says you must reside in the consulate's jurisdiction and apply in person.

Consulate	States covered (from official pages)
Washington DC	DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina
New York	New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
Houston	Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas

Spain also has consulates in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Each one lists the states it covers on its own page on the Spanish foreign ministry website (exteriores.gob.es). Look up your state there before you collect documents, because checklists differ between consulates.

The 2026 BLS change in Washington

In 2026, Washington routed nearly all remaining visa types, including telework, to the BLS Spain Visa Application Center. From 1 September 2026, telework visa applications have to be filed in person, by appointment, at BLS in Washington DC. From 1 October 2026, all visa applications from the district, except those admitted directly at the Consular Section, must go to BLS by appointment (Embassy of Spain in Washington, Place of submission).

Fees vary by visa type and nationality. Check the current amount on your consulate's or BLS's fee page before your appointment.

Moving to Spain from the USA step by step: the order that works

Here is the short version: choose a visa, order your FBI check early, gather and translate your documents, apply in person, then enter Spain and finish your residency there. These are the steps in order:

Pick your visa. Match your income source to the right route using the comparison table above.
Confirm your consulate. Find the consulate for your state and download its current checklist.
Check your passport. The New York consulate requires at least 1 year of validity and two blank pages (Consulate General of Spain in New York).
Order your FBI background check. Do this early, because the apostille takes the longest.
Get the federal apostille, then the sworn translation. See the details below.
Buy compliant health insurance. Match the policy to your consulate's wording.
Get your NIE if your visa needs it first. The Houston consulate says you must get an NIE before applying for the telework visa. The Washington telework page says the same; check your own consulate's current checklist. For the non-lucrative visa, the NIE is usually assigned during the visa process.
Fill in the forms. For the non-lucrative visa, the first residence permit is processed together with the visa, using forms EX 01 and 790-052.
Attend your appointment in person. Go to the consulate or its BLS visa center with originals and copies.
Collect your visa and enter Spain. Note the TIE deadline printed on the visa.

FBI background check, apostille and translation

Washington's employee-visa checklist rejects state or local police checks. It requires an FBI check issued within the 6 months before you submit, with a Hague Apostille and an official Spanish translation by a sworn or certified translator (Embassy of Spain in Washington, Employee Visa). Some guides say 90 days instead, so follow your own consulate's checklist for your visa type. If you spent more than 180 days in another country in the last 5 years, you need a check from that country too.

San Francisco also requires a fingerprint-based FBI check, with the federal Apostille from the Department of State in Washington DC (Consulate General of Spain in San Francisco). That apostille costs $20 per document. Get the apostille first, then have the translator translate the check and the apostille pages together. One specialist puts the 2026 State Department turnaround at 8 to 12 weeks (Nomad Advisers).

Worked example: timing your FBI check

Say your FBI check is issued on 1 June 2026 and your consulate uses the 6-month rule, so you must submit by 1 December 2026. If the apostille takes the full 12 weeks, it comes back around 24 August 2026. That leaves about 14 weeks for the translation and your appointment, which is enough, but tight if appointment slots are scarce.

NIE, empadronamiento and TIE: what to do after you arrive

After you land, the order is: NIE (often already assigned during the visa process), then padrón registration, then the TIE card. The TIE must be completed within the window on your visa, usually one month from entry, according to SpainMoves.

Empadronamiento (padrón registration)

Empadronamiento means registering your address with your town hall. You generally need your passport, a rental contract or property deed and, in some cases, your NIE. You then get a certificate called a volante (MAM Solicitors). Sign a lease quickly, because you cannot register without an address.

The TIE card

You book the TIE appointment online through Spain's official Sede Electrónica (Extranjería). Your padrón certificate must be dated within the last 3 months. The card takes another 30 to 45 days after your fingerprint appointment, per Move to Europe.

For example, if you enter Spain on 15 January 2027 with a one-month window, register on the padrón in your first week and book the fingerprint appointment for before 15 February. Expect the card between mid-March and early April.

Common mistakes when you move to Spain from the US

Delays often come from timing and paperwork. These mistakes come up again and again:

Using a state police check. Consulates expect an FBI check with a federal apostille, not a state check.
Ordering the FBI check too late, or too early. The apostille can take 8 to 12 weeks, but the check can also expire before your appointment.
Translating before apostilling. The translator should translate the apostille page too.
Buying the wrong health insurance. Non-lucrative applicants need a policy with no copays or deductibles.
Applying at the wrong consulate. Jurisdiction depends on where you live.
Using 2025 income figures. The digital nomad threshold is €2,849 a month in 2026, not €2,763.
Forgetting the renewal amount. Renewal covers two years, so you must show 24 months of funds (€57,600 for the main applicant) and more than 183 days a year living in Spain.
Counting on the golden visa. It closed on 3 April 2025.
Treating 90 days as a reset. The limit is 90 days in any 180-day period, and EES records your entries and exits.
Missing the TIE window. Book quickly, since appointments can be scarce.

If Spain's rules don't fit you, compare them with moving to Portugal from the USA or read our wider guide on how to move to Europe as an American.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just move to Spain and apply for residency after I arrive?

Mostly no. The non-lucrative visa must be filed in person at the consulate (or its BLS visa center) that covers your US state. The main exception is the digital nomad route: people legally in Spain can apply for the telework residence permit inside Spain without a prior visa. You must file within your 90 visa-free days in any 180-day period, and EES tracks those days.

Do I get my NIE before or after I move?

Usually before. For the non-lucrative visa, your NIE is normally assigned during the visa and residence permit process at the consulate. For the digital nomad visa, the Houston and Washington consulates say you must get an NIE before you apply, so check your own consulate's current checklist. After you arrive, you register on the padrón and then apply for your TIE card.

How long does it take to get a TIE after arriving?

Plan on about two to three months in total. You usually have one month from entry to apply for the TIE. You need a padrón certificate dated within the last 3 months, you book the fingerprint appointment through the Sede Electrónica, and the card is ready 30 to 45 days after that appointment. Book early, because slots can be hard to find.

Can I bring my spouse and kids, and how much more income is required?

Yes. On the non-lucrative visa, each family member adds €7,200 a year (about $8,352), although one source says children need less, so confirm with your consulate. On the digital nomad visa, a spouse adds about €1,068 a month and each additional family member about €356 a month, based on the 2026 minimum wage.

Do I still pay US taxes if I live in Spain, and will I pay tax in both countries?

Yes, you still file a US federal tax return every year, because the United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live (Wise). Spain can also tax you once you become a Spanish tax resident. Whether you end up paying in both countries depends on your income and how the two systems interact, so confirm your situation with a cross-border tax adviser or the IRS and Spain's Agencia Tributaria.

How long until I can get permanent residency or Spanish citizenship?

Spain offers long-term residence and citizenship by residence, but the waiting periods and conditions, including what happens to your US citizenship, should come straight from the official source. Check residence rules with Spain's Ministry of Inclusion and nationality rules with the Ministry of Justice, or ask an immigration lawyer. Meanwhile, plan each renewal carefully, since time spent outside Spain can affect it.

References

Filed under Living in Europe Before You Move

Muhammad Sahil

Founder and editor of EU Info Hub. Digital marketer with over seven years of freelance experience, now studying economics and business in Europe. He has been through the residence permit process himself. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Always confirm details with the relevant consulate or authority.